South Dade overwhelming favorite to bring home another state wrestling title

That crowning – barring a monumental upset – is set for this weekend at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, where the Bucs are expected to win their fourth straight Class 3A state title, their 12th overall.

No Miami-Dade or Broward wrestling program has ever won four straight at state … until, likely, now.

“They would have to have a major meltdown not to win state,” St. Thomas Aquinas coach Robert Wimberley said. “The reality is that there are about four schools, us included, who are in the hunt for runners-up.”

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Wimberley mentioned Miami schools Southwest and Southridge among those programs that could finish as high as second.

South Dade and coach Vic Balmeceda are coming off a 4-3A regional in which they nearly redefined the word dominant. The Bucs advanced 12 of their 14 wrestlers, winning 10 regional titles.

They routed runner-up Southwest by 108 points, and they will enter Silver Spurs Arena on Friday with three defending state champs: Kyron Taylor at 285 pounds, Chei Hill (220) and Elijah Varona (113).

“Before our district tournament, I challenged our guys to set themselves apart from previous teams,” Balmeceda said. “I wanted them to break records and create their own legacy.

“Well, challenge accepted. Since that speech, all they have done is shatter records. We put 13 of 14 in district finals, for example.

“This weekend, I’m hoping the streak continues and the boys break a few more records, mainly that elusive fourth consecutive state title.”

Aquinas, which qualified eight wrestlers for state, including five champs in its region, has had to overcome an injury to its 40-win heavyweight, John Pope, who will miss state due to a broken right foot.

“The good news is that he is only a sophomore,” Wimberley said. “We’ll get him back for the next two years.”

Aquinas is hoping to crown two individuals as state champs. Senior Josiah Gittman, who suffered a broken foot in November, came back before districts and is 18-0 this season. And Grant Arronoff, a junior 138-pounder, is 49-3.

Both are defending state champs, and Arronoff also won a national title this past summer.

“We’ve done all we can do so far,” Wimberley said. “We just don’t have the numbers South Dade has.”

In Class 1A, Lake Highland Prep is favored to win, but Broward power Cardinal Gibbons has a shot to challenge.

“We’d have to do everything perfectly perfect to beat them,” Gibbons coach Frank Pettineo said of Lake Highland. “That’s possible. But, more than likely, the battle is for second place.”

Gibbons, which went 26-0 in dual meets this year, also won county, district and regional titles, advancing 11 wrestlers to state.

“We should have taken all 14, but we made some mistakes,” Pettineo said. “We have an inexperienced but talented team.”

Gibbons is led by its two undefeated wrestlers, 195-pounder Christopher Williams and 182-pounder Michael Lopouchanski, both 38-0.

Williams was a state runner-up last season. Lopouchanski finished fourth.

Gibbons also has two other regional champs: Amadeaus Concepcion at 145 pounds and Osvani Ley at 160.LEDE

VOLLEYBALL

Gulliver announced Thursday it has hired Alan Obrador as its new volleyball coach. Obrador recently served as the Doral Volleyball Academy technical director, and has coached various professional and club teams across Puerto Rico and Florida.

“I am very lucky to become part of a great school like Gulliver,” Obrador said. “My goals are to be competitive from day one, and with hard work, we will compete at the level that I expect from our student-athletes.”